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ARTICLE

The Reciprocal Effects Among Cumulative Risk, Depression, and Psychache in Adolescents: A Developmental Cascade Model

Kai Jing1,2,#, Jingqun Wang3,#, Baojuan Ye3,4,*, Qi Dai4, Xian Gong5, Guorong Wang2
1 School of Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, China
2 Student Affairs Office, Jiangxi Vocational College of Foreign Studies, Nanchang, 330099, China
3 Research Center for Positive Psychological Development, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, China
4 School of Psychology, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, China
5 Nanchang Middle School Gaoxin Campus, Nanchang, 330224, China
* Corresponding Author: Baojuan Ye. Email: email
# These authors contributed equally to this work
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Adolescent and Youth Mental Health: Toxic and Friendly Environments)

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2025.071120

Received 31 July 2025; Accepted 16 October 2025; Published online 03 November 2025

Abstract

Objectives: Early adolescence is a key period of ecological and physiological change, during which exposure to accumulating risks from various environmental systems can negatively impact mental health. This study aimed to investigate the potential longitudinal relationships among cumulative risk, depression, and psychache in adolescents. Methods: A three-wave longitudinal study spanning one year was conducted with 675 (47.5% girls; Mean age = 14.13, standard deviation [SD] = 0.45) middle school students. The Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) was used to explore the dynamic reciprocal relationships among these variables. Results: At the within-individual level, cumulative risk, depression, and psychache showed relative stability over time (β ranges from 0.21 to 0.52, p < 0.01). Prior cumulative risk significantly and positively predicted later depression and psychache (β ranges from 0.21 to 0.52, p < 0.01). Prior depression significantly and positively predicted later cumulative risk and psychache (β ranges from 0.15 to 0.17, p < 0.01). Prior psychache significantly and positively predicted later depression (β ranges from 0.25 to 0.26, p < 0.001). Conclusion: A cascading effect of mutual influences existed among cumulative risk, depression, and psychache in early adolescents. These findings highlight the usefulness of screening for both cumulative risk and psychache to identify at-risk individuals. Additionally, including psychache assessment in early intervention strategies could enhance their effectiveness.

Keywords

Cumulative risk; depression; psychache; cascading effect

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